Injury Clinic

Trigger Finger

Trigger finger is a painful condition of the hand. It is caused when the tendons that move the fingers or the thumb in the palm of the hand get stuck. The tendons normally glide within tunnels that protect them from their surroundings. When these tunnels become inflamed, the tendons don’t glide effectively within them, and pain as well as a ‘popping’ sensation result. This leads to decreased motion, swelling and weakness. Treatment of this condition can involve a simple splint, a cortisone injection, or surgical release of the tunnel under a local anaesthetic.